Making a Mortmain

Early last year I had the opportunity to pattern test for the Gather Kit gals and got my mits on their first dress pattern, the Mortmain.

The Mortmain pattern has now gone live and is popping up in instagram feeds and blog posts all over the land so I though I would share my dress with you.

Despite looking like a beautiful spring day these photos were actually taken on a bright but blisteringly cold February day! The bare trees are a dead giveaway.

I really love the fit of this dress, so flattering but still very comfortable, a must for me!

Because it was a pattern test you are never really sure whether you will have a wearable garment at the end, which is partially what influences my fabric choice. It is a vintage cotton sheet, but I did have a vision of a fun ice cream pastel coloured retro style dress and I was lucky that I got a wearable dress after the testing!

Because I was testing I did not deviate from the specified pattern, the only tweek I made was to add in seam pockets, I can't stand a dress without pockets! Next time I will line the bodice rather than using facings, as I much prefer this finish and find it more comfortable.

I just love the exposed zip in this pattern, its so me! If you are looking for a good selection of coloured zips then Jaycotts is a good source.

Here is a glimpse of me and my mini assistant at the end of the shoot, rushing back indoors to warm up! I am looking forward to stitching up my next Mortmain, this time with a few alternations, a gathered skirt and long sleeves I think in a lovely chambray I have had stashed away. If you want to make a mortmain you can get the pattern here or from many online fabric stores too. And if you are local you can see my dress in person in Social Fabric in Totnes, Devon where it is on display in the window, along with a nice supply of the pattern itself for sale.

Going off grid

Ahem, as you may have already noticed I have been having an extended break from blogging. How refreshing its been too. I have missed you all but I have been filling my time with teaching, sewing, lots of knitting and lots of relaxing. Life has been busy and I have been making a conscious effort to rest. I have been feeling unwell for months now but with spring on the way and lots of duvet days, slow knitting and reading under my belt it feels good! I have still been sharing, as you doubt have read from other bloggers I am loving Instagram. I feel like I am leaving those of you who don't use it out of the loop but I love its instant, no nonsense way of connecting and sharing. I also find SO much inspiration on there!

I hope to pop in a little more regularly now that I am starting to get that spring back in my step! I thought I would start off with something completely new for me, a knitting tutorial!

Annie at the Village Haberdashery is so great, she sent me this amazing Manos Silk Blend yarn when I told her I had an idea for a cowl. A really simple cowl with a lovely leaf motif, the perfect introduction to lace knitting. And her photos as always are amazing!

It knits up really quickly, full instructions for the cowl are over on the Daily Stitch Blog and you can pick up some of the beautiful Manos Silk Blend from The Village Haberdashery here, you only need two hanks! If you are local you can pop into the shop and see my cowl for yourself, it really is so soft, perfect to wear next to your skin.

This is the first knitting pattern I have written and I am so proud, especially as I only started knitting a year ago. I know I am hooked for life now!!